TRACK AND FIELD: U.S. sprinter wins his second gold medal, sets meet record in 200.

By Bob Baum

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OSAKA, Japan – Tired and sore, Tyson Gay didn’t have energy left to celebrate completing one of the most impressive sprint doubles in the history of the World Track and Field Championships.

“This was the hardest race of my life,” he said. “I couldn’t think or nothing. I really couldn’t put my arms up to celebrate. I couldn’t even really jog on my victory lap.”

The latest dominant American sprinter pulled away from Jamaican Usain Bolt down the straightaway to win the 200 meters Thursday in 19.76 seconds, breaking the meet record of 19.79 set 12 years ago by American Michael Johnson in Goteborg, Sweden.

“Tyson is the man to beat right now hands down. He just proved it,” bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon said.

Gay’s victory came in his eighth race, counting preliminaries, in six days at Nagai Stadium. He won the 100 Sunday in 9.85. Both wins were into headwinds.

Bolt had a slight lead at the end of the curve, a development that shocked Gay.

“To see him winning, I’m not used to that,” said Gay, adding he usually loses when he isn’t ahead by then.

He needed just about two steps down the straightaway to take the lead, then sprinted away. Bolt was second in 19.91.

“He just flat-out beat me,” Bolt said. “I did pretty well, but he’s the better man on this day.”

Spearmon, who had a false start then stumbled out of the blocks at the next gun, went 20.05, edging U.S. teammate Rodney Martin, who had a personal-best 20.06. Runner-up to Justin Gatlin in 2003, Spearmon expected better.

“I got a medal,” Spearmon said. “It’s supposed to be a pat on the back, but right now it’s like a spit in the face.”

Gay’s sweep of the 100 and 200 events duplicated Gatlin’s achievement at the 2003 World Championships in Helsinki. Gatlin is absent at these worlds, because he’s appealing a possible eight-year ban after testing positive for testosterone and other steroids in April 2006.

The only other sprinter to complete the 100-200 sweep at the worlds was fellow American Maurice Greene in Seville, Spain, in 1999.

Despite a sore left hamstring, Gay has a shot at one more gold medal in the 400-meter relay Saturday. Only two other U.S. athletes – Carl Lewis (1983, 1987) and Greene (1999) – have won three golds at a world championships.

Thursday’s success helped Gay erase a bad memory from Helsinki, where he faded to fourth in the 200.

The former Arkansas sprinter is making strides off the track, too, overcoming his natural shyness to deal with the attention that’s bound to grow as the 2008 Beijing Olympics approach.

“I’ll be prepared,” he said. “I’m learning to handle more media. This is the first year I’ve received this much attention. I think next year I’m going to work even harder. I worked hard this year, but I know I can work harder.”

Defending champion Dwight Phillips managed a bronze in the long jump, giving the United States 13 medals, three more than second-place Russia. The Americans have six gold.

There was high drama in the long jump, where Irving Saladino of Panama won on his final jump – 28 feet, 1 inches. Andrew Howe of Italy had taken the lead with a national record jump of 27-9 .

Australian Jana Rawlinson won the 400-meter hurdles just eight months after giving birth to a son. Defending champion and world record holder Yuliya Pechenkina of Russia was second.

“The last 18 months have been truly incredible” the former Jana Pittman said. “Getting married, having a baby and then coming and winning a world title. I don’t think you can beat that.”

Defending champion Allyson Felix and American teammate Sanya Richards each won a semifinal heat in the women’s 200. Campbell, winner of the 100 on Monday, was second to Felix in her heat. Torri Edwards and LaShaunte’a Moore also advanced, giving the United States four runners in tonight’s 200 final.

Bernard Lagat, who won the 1,500 meters for the United States on Wednesday night, made it through the 5,000 preliminaries Thursday. Matthew Tegenkamp and Adam Goucher also advanced, giving the United States three runners in what has historically been a weak American event.

Brad Walker was the only American to make it to Saturday’s pole vault finals.

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